December weather - is it safe to assume...

[Sandy Fisher]

It's difficult to plan, as you can see from other posts. One year we were there the week leading up to Christmas. It was 57 when we got to Orlando. It went down in the upper 30's the first 3 nights. Then we had rain. I was dressing in layers, but bought a scarf, knit hat and gloves at one of the stores and needed them!!
By Christmas Eve it was in the 80's. Good thing about the cold days, lots less people in the parks and I mean lots less. We walked on just about anything as often as we wanted in MK.
When it warmed up on the 24th, you couldn't move!! We were glad we got to do lots of attractions when it wasn't crowded.
It's hard to pack for all kinds of weather -- especially if you are flying and it costs now for extra suitcases. But that's what you need to do. Or else figure on shopping!

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

I'm glad I'm not the only one freaking out about shopping and packing for December weather. Thanks for posting this! It's been very helpful!

The first year we were at WDW in December, we were not prepared at all and had to buy expensive Disney sweatshirts for the evenings. Now, we bring an assortment of clothing (shorts, capris, jeans, light jackets, sandals, sneakers and boot-type shoes.)

Like mentioned, check online for the weather forecast before heading to Orlando. When we there last year, it was warm during the day (80's) and chilly at night (low 50's). Be prepared or you will pay (overpriced Disney clothing).

- Jennifer

 

[JoanneGreco]

We live about an hour from Disney. I would say take a little of everything...some shorts and tank tops and also some pants/t-shirts and sweaters. I love the winter weather in Florida (beats shoveling snow!)

 

[Experiment_626]

on our trip last December it was FREEZING. OK, actually I think that was technically January, but we had to wear jeans, sweatshirts, jackets, even gloves/mittens.

Must have been the same time we were there -- the first week of January, 2008. It was insanely cold the first couple of days we were there. The third day started cold as well, but in the afternoon it started warming up. Day four was quite pleasant, but those first two days, the high temperature never climbed out of the 40s! I don't think anything can compare to the tram ride the end of that first day -- the wind in the parking lot has very little to slow it down, and we were chilled to the bone!

I had checked the Weather Channel forecast before we left, and so we knew this was coming (and I'm used to the way the weather changes in Florida, because I've lived in this state all my life). But we still weren't prepared, because what we didn't count on was how it would be different to actually be outside in the cold for hours on end. I'm very hot-natured and am usually comfortable in temperatures that others think of as cold, but I was freezing, even with a heavy leather jacket over a sweatshirt over a T-shirt, and long underwear under my jeans.

Somewhere I have a photo of my wife and two-year-old son riding Dumbo on the second night of that trip -- they're bundled-up like Maggie Simpson!

Brrrrr!

SSB

 

[kschafer]

I have cankles (my calves go all the way down to my ankles) so capris are not a good look for me.

Me too!! I had no idea there was a term for our condition!!

 

[wdwquilt]

I have been twice in December and it has been in the 80's most of the time. Last time we went, we were delayed by a blizzard on the way there and again on the way back. Considering where we come from, the weather would seem balmy in the 50's! However, we did need sweatshirts a couple evenings when the temperature seemed to plunge a bit. I remember having a hard time keeping warm on a drizzly night at EPCOT. Brrrr.

 

[Princess_K]

Thank you all so much for your responses! It's just so hard to have any idea of what of what to take. You think going to Florida you wouldn't need heavy jackets, but it sounds like you have to be prepared! I'll probably wait for some of these end of summer sales and then try to grab a couple pairs of capris, and then take jeans and a couple pairs of shorts. I've even tried to look at a couple of December trip reports to see what those people were wearing

 

[acm563]

Check the forecast before you go...I have been down there in December in shorts and tshirts and I have been down there when it was 32* at night and not very warm during the day. One thing I do know tho is that if you are the type to be at DTD til 2 am bring a jacket if you are ocming back on the buses as they freeze you out at night

 

[KMLOVESWDW]

This will be our first Dec trip & have no idea what to expect also. I'm always cold so I know what I'll be packing. Here's another question-how are the hotel rooms?? We are always trying to fiddle around with the ac-what about heat? Wondering what they set the rooms to in Dec? This just occured to me when reading this post!!

 

[puddleduck]

I recommend layering. We found the temp to be very variable. Cold in the morning and warm in the afternoon. Colder one day warmer the next. The weather there is just to variable.

 

[Debbie-TN]

December is my heaviest packing trip. You have to take two sets of clothes. We've been there when it's in the 80's and other times when it's been in the 40's and 50's. One year we went just before Christmas and it was sleeting(and it wasn't the fake stuff from Main Street). Be prepared for anything. I always check the weather at weather.com. You can get a 10 day forecast.

 

[monty]

We were in WDW 2nd week of Dec. 2005. I never wore anything less than jeans & sweater but there were plenty of people walking around in t shirts & shorts.
I put it down to we had flown out of a southern summer. The shorts people were from a northern winter.

 

[MickeyNicki]

No, tee shirts and shorts would be pushing it sometimes. THe normal temp at night is in the low 50's and in the day 60-70s

 

[PrincessBelle39]

This December we had two days in the low 60's and then the rest of the trip was mid 70's to mid 80's. We were there for 4 weeks and left on 26 December. The nights did get chilly though.

 

[raven69david]

Out of the multiple times we've been there in December, it was only cold once. In the morning it was in the 50's while in the afternoon it was in the high 60's/low 70's. It was perfect.

 

[kimmar067]

...that we could wear tank tops and shorts? I've heard such varying stories about people's december trips. We are supposed to take a set of warm weather clothes and a set of cold weather clothes from what I've read. Do people wear jeans during the day or is it mostly shorts/capris. I want to make sure I stock up on the things I will need while they are still in stores! Thanks for your help

....one piece of advice: ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE when it comes to December at WDW, especially during Christmas Week.....we were there TWICE:

1) It barely got above 60 degrees during the day; we had to buy heavy sweatshirts and a jacket while watching Illuminations at Epcot, along with mugs of hot cocoa (Dec 1999) because the temp. was a 'balmy' 45 degrees!

2) This past Christmas, it was betwwen 79-83 degrees every day - warm enough to go swimming at the Grotto pool and certainly warm enough to wear shorts - even at night!

Go figure!

 

[princessfionasmom]

that if I check the weather for the 10 day forecast before we leave it will be close enough to being accurate? I know the weather guys are not always right but close enough works for packing, right? We are going first week in Dec from Boston MA so we will more than like have warm clothes, jacket and gloves on when we leave so at least we'll have that stuff if we need it.

 

[iheartaladdin]

It's pretty much unpredictable. One year it'll be cold in December another year it won't. One day you'll be freezing the next you'll be wishing it was freezing...From a local view just be prepared for anything.except snow

 

[Quicklabs]

My favorite clothing items for December in Disney is my convertible pants. In the morning, we start out with pants, zip off and put the pant legs in my pocket for the afternoon, then zip back onto pants for the evenings. Through a sweatshirt around my shoulders and I've got it made.

 

[kimmar067]

My favorite clothing items for December in Disney is my convertible pants. In the morning, we start out with pants, zip off and put the pant legs in my pocket for the afternoon, then zip back onto pants for the evenings. Through a sweatshirt around my shoulders and I've got it made.

....'convertible pants'....good one.... (I don't know why it sounded funny to me, but it did...)